A&E

Local aerial artists take dance, fitness and empowerment to new heights

For Allie Cooper, hanging upside down from a rope 20 feet in the air is therapeutic. Relying solely on her ability to carry her own weight, she can twist, flip, and pose in ways that for many people seem unfathomable. But for an aerial artist, it’s just another day on the job.

“I enjoy the puzzle that’s involved with it,” explains Cooper, an eight-year veteran in the local aerial arts scene. “Once you have a foundation of moves, it’s really a logic game where the object is to find patterns and pathways, and it’s incredibly rewarding when you do.”

It's been a turbulent year for Shakespeare Santa Cruz, since UC Santa Cruz officially pulled the plug on the company this summer, after 32 years of dynamic local theater. For the grand finale of its 2013 season—and possibly forever, at least in its present incarnation—SSC joins with the UCSC Theater Department for its annual holiday co-production. This year, they present “It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Joe Landry's popular 1997 play in which the beloved Frank Capra Christmas movie is reimagined as a radio drama being broadcast live, ca. 1946.

Actress, podcaster, Grammy nominee and internationally acclaimed stand-up comic Margaret Cho’s award-winning one-woman comedy shows have always addressed the tough issues she’s faced throughout her life. From her struggle to make it as a stand-up comic, to a self-deprecating body image, to drug and alcohol addiction, Cho has never shied away from tackling difficult topics with tact and humor.

Rachael Lincoln and Leslie Seiters explore dueling desires and personal transformation in new dance work

Living on the opposite end of the west coast from your dance partner can be challenging—especially when you’re attempting to choreograph an evening-length duet. But for longtime collaborators Rachael Lincoln and Leslie Seiters of Lean To Productions, it’s an everyday reality.

“Leslie lives in San Diego and I’m in Seattle, so the way that we’ve worked for a long time now, has been in little chunks here and there,” explains Lincoln. “It takes a while for us to build a new piece, but that collaboration is what interests me … it’s the relationships.”

At Mary Anne Kluth’s new MAH exhibit, theme parks and natural landscapes become one

Most people visit amusement parks to go on rides and munch on cotton candy—but not Mary Anne Kluth. The Oakland-based artist regularly visits theme parks in order to take digital snapshots of the simulated landscapes.

Her fascination with theme parks grew after she took a part-time job at Fairyland, a children’s amusement park in Oakland, in 2006. Soon after being hired, the park’s management recognized her artistic talent and asked her to join a small team dedicated to restoring the park.

Editor’s note: Zack Rogow serves as Poetry Editor of the Santa Cruz-based Catamaran Literary Reader. He is also the author, editor, or translator of 20 books or plays. His seventh book of poems, “My Mother and the Ceiling Dancers,” was published by Kattywompus Press. In addition, he is the editor of an anthology of poetry featuring work by leading writers in the United States, called “The Face of Poetry,” published by University of California Press. Currently, he teaches in the low-residency MFA writing program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Anita Landon grew up in rural New England with a mother who painted murals on their walls, a brother who dabbled in sculpture, and a grandfather who painted in oils. All told, five of her eight family members growing up were artists. Perhaps that’s why Landon, who is participating in her first Open Studios this year, strives to make the best use of the resources available to her while creating art.

AXIS Dance Company is testament to the old adage “you have to see it to believe it.” The Oakland-based organization has earned praise worldwide for its physically integrated dance—a contemporary form that incorporates dancers with and without disabilities.

“There is a huge amount of skill and generosity that goes into a physically integrated performance that gets lost in words,” explains Sonsheree Giles, associate director of AXIS. “You have to see it, because it’s hard for most people to understand what it might mean for someone with a wheelchair to dance.”

Since its inception in 1987, AXIS has performed more than 60 repertory works, three of which—“The Reflective Surface,” “The Narrowing” and “what if would you”—will unfold at Motion Pacific on Oct. 12 and 13.

For the first three weekends in October, hundreds of artists around Santa Cruz County will open their studio doors to the public, who will in turn have the opportunity to view their artwork and check out their work spaces. Those interested in participating in The Open Studios Art Tour can purchase a 2013 Guide for $20, which includes sample artwork from each artist, plus the locations of their studios. To help you navigate the event, we have handpicked eight varied, must-see artists.

At the Imagine Supported Living Services Short Film Festival, individuals with disabilities prove there is more to them than meets the eye

“You can’t judge a book by its cover,” Brianne Holeman proudly asserts across the quiet conference room. “I live by that every day.”

We’re sitting in the Santa Cruz chapter of Hope Services, one of more than 50 agencies in Santa Cruz County that serve children, adults and seniors with developmental disabilities. Holeman is here as a client. She may have been diagnosed with a learning disability 23 years ago, but she refuses to let it define her.

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Best of Santa Cruz 2015

In 40 years of publishing, Good Times has seen a lot of “bests.”

Spring Triangle: Three Spring Festivals—Aries, Taurus, Gemini

The Spring signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini constitute a triangle of force that sets the template for the nine signs that follow and the template for the entire year (Spring 2015 - Spring 2016) ahead.
Aries initiates new ideas, Taurus stabilizes the new thinking of Aries and Gemini takes the initiating stabilized ideas of Aries/Taurus and disperses them to all of humanity. It is in this way that humanity learns new things, with the help of Mercury, the messenger.
As Spring unfolds, three elements emerge: the Fire of Aries (initiating new ideas), the Earth of Taurus (anchoring the ideas of God through Mercury) and the Air of communicating Gemini. These three signs/elements are the Three Spring Festivals. They are the “triangle of force” forming the template (patterns) of energy for the upcoming new year. After these three we then have the soothing, calming, warming, nurturing and tending waters of the mother (Cancer). Cancer initiates our next season under the hot suns of summer. Planets, stars and signs create the Temple of Light directing humanity towards all things new.
March 29 is Palm Sunday, when the Christ, World Teacher, was led into Jerusalem (City of Peace) on a donkey (humility). Palms waving above His head, signified recognition of the Christ’s divinity. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before the Easter (Resurrection Festival). Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, the week of capture, imprisonment, passion, sacrifice, crucifixion, death and resurrection of the christ. All events in the Christ’s life represent events (initiations) that humanity experiences through many lifetimes. We turn our attention to these holy events this week. Their concepts portray and reveal to us greater spiritual understanding. Then, Aries, the “light of life itself” shines through us.

The New Tech Nexus

Community leaders in science and technology unite to form web-based networking program

Spring Spirits

What’s your favorite most recent outdoor discovery in Santa Cruz?

A hike that’s across from Waddell Beach. I didn’t realize you could go across the highway and do a super simple loop, and it’s beautiful. You can see the coastline.
Liz Porter, Santa Cruz, Community Outreach